It was near Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia, on the morning of May 18, 1864. General Grant wished to pierce our line, and had massed some ten thousand troops for this purpose.  Many of these were reserves from the camps at Washington. The point at which the attack was made was a strong one, and the storming columns were subjected to a deadly crossfire. The first advance was repulsed with fearful loss. Again did the Federal troops gallantly charge our works, but their lines melted away under the storm of musketry, grape, and canister that swept the intervening space. They then fell back in confusion, leaving their dead and wounded on the smoking field.

Immediately our skirmish line was thrown out to watch their movements, and was established at a point where the slaughter had been greatest. The smoke had scarcely cleared from the field and the random shots were growing fewer. A member of the 4th Virginia Infantry, "Stonewall Brigade", who was posted on this line, on looking around him, saw a small white spaniel with black ears, standing with one foot on the breast of a Federal lieutenant who had been killed a short time before.

The dog commenced barking furiously at the skirmisher, whose first impulse was to shoot the animal; but, on second thought, he took in the situation, and admired the fidelity of the little beast, guarding, with its own life, the dead body of its late master. The scene touched the soldier's heart, and he tried to pacify the faithful creature. Getting a sash from a dead Zouave nearby, he succeeded, after many attempts, in throwing it over the dog's head, and claiming it as his prisoner. The dog was loath to leave the dead soldier, and continued to lick the wound upon his cheek.

When the line was relieved, the Confederate brought the little dog back to the regiment, and gave it to our major, who sent it back to the wagon train. For two days it would eat but little, seemed dejected, and at night would whine most piteously. On the morning of the third day hunger had conquered, and new life had come to the poor animal. It ate greedily, was cheerful, and frisked around as if reconciled to its new friends. We supposed that this faithful little creature had been the pet of some soldier; had followed him closely in all those terrific charges, was by him when he fell, and guarded his body with tender devotion when all had fled.

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